@wrxtasy, some suggested updates to your original poost, including mentioning of the new Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 and also change the phrase "Intel hardware" to Intel x86-64 computer" in order to make that a little more clear, as well as some other small stuff, all changes marked with italic text.

Q. I like to do a bit of DIY and don't mind getting my hands a little bit dirty and learning something in the process ?
(all devices running LibreELEC Kodi, unless noted)

Intel x86-64 computer

ASUS Chromebox

Q. What about devices for up to 4K HEVC (H.265) video playback over HDMI 2.0 to my non HDR capable 4K TV ?NOTE: 99% of devices running the Android OS cannot Automatically Resolution Switch from 1080p to 4K like you will get with other non-Android Kodi devices. Demanding potential NVIDIA Shield owners would be advised to readthis upscaling thread
Sharper video is produced when upscaling SD/HD video to 4K using a 4K TV's upscaling Hardware, instead of the media players.

Any x86-64 computer with with a GeForce GTX 960 or later Nvidia graphics card solution, preferably GeForce GT 1030 or better.

Q. I need a Kodi box that can play 1080p or 4K DRM copy protected video streams such as Netflix, HBO etc. ?NOTE: 2.0 Audio only from DD+ DRM streaming Apps running on Android TV platforms, unless you have a DD+ connected Audio receiver.
1080p/4K Android Netflix is only possible on media players boxes that are Netflix Approved.

Intel x86-64 computers with GeForce GT 1030 or later Nvidia graphics card solution running Win10, using either dedicated Apps or a Web Browser

You might even want to write "Intel and AMD x86-64 computers" as AMD is still a good CPU as long as you also have a Nvidia GeForce GPU/card as well in that same computer. That is, do not discriminate based on CPU but only on GPU, because it is the GPU that contain the VPU

I know that Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and have Google's later Widevine Level 1 DRM certificates (most devices only come with Widevine Level 3 DRM certificates) , but even if it meets those software requirements and all the hardware requirements, Netflix still also has to get around to actually testing the device and adding it to their certified list of devices as well for the device to get the Netflix certificate too, and there is where it gets complexed, see => http://androidpcreview.com/netflix-hd-an...-box/3784/

You can check Widevine DRM support with DRM Info app https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...ng.drminfo but checking Netflix certificate is more complicated. I know that the WeTek boxes do come with Widevine Level 1 DRM certificate support, but have they also been certified by Netflix? And if so why are their devices and Xiaomi Mi Box not listed on Netflix own sites?

PS: Another FYI that is deffinitly off-topic is that Netflix have confirmed that it is activly blocking all rooted/unlocked Andoid devices from getting updates via Google Play Store, and one can assume that this might lead to Netflix later also blocking playback on those Android devices, or maybe just move to blocking playback of HD and 4K on modified Android devices. See => http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/13/...rking-now/

You might even want to write "Intel and AMD x86-64 computers" as AMD is still a good CPU as long as you also have a Nvidia GeForce GPU/card as well in that same computer. That is, do not discriminate based on CPU but only on GPU, because it is the GPU that contain the VPU

Yes I've done a re-organization so Newbs can concentrate on media player features they are most interested in.

Lets get some testing under the GeForce GT 1030 belt before we start awarding it with titles, especially Hardware decode testing with Linux/LibreELEC. Not everyone wants to run Windows 10 on old HTPC Hardware just to get video decoding working.

Yes the Mi Box is good value for entry level Kodi, but for a 4K media player its missing - Ethernet, Kodi dynamic refresh switching, proper deinterlacing, legacy decode support for VC-1. And like 99% of 4K Android Krypton Boxes has no auto 1080p/4K resolution switching and broken TvHeadend support - which is the most popular free Kodi PVR. Yes I'm a hard marker.

Plus you have to deal with Android OS limitations that annoyingly get in the way of using Kodi.

At least with the MINIX U1 you can run an additional Kick Ass OS like LibreELEC Kodi Krypton where all the above is working. After all we are "Picking the right Kodi box" - all the Android stuff really can be considered "extras" in that context.

(2017-07-28, 20:03)wrxtasy Wrote: Yes the Mi Box is good value for entry level Kodi, but for a 4K media player its missing - Ethernet, Kodi dynamic refresh switching, proper deinterlacing, legacy decode support for VC-1. And like 99% of 4K Android Krypton Boxes has no auto 1080p/4K resolution switching and broken TvHeadend support - which is the most popular free Kodi PVR. Yes I'm a hard marker.

Plus you have to deal with Android OS limitations that annoyingly get in the way of using Kodi.

At least with the MINIX U1 you can run an additional Kick Ass OS like LibreELEC Kodi Krypton where all the above is working. After all we are "Picking the right Kodi box" - all the Android stuff really can be considered "extras" in that context.

So maybe then specifically list "MINIX U1 with LibreELEC or similar Linux OS (not Android OS)"?

Maybe also list those requirements for high-end 4K with HDR. That is, hard marker should be mentioned.

Otherwise people will get the impression that Android OS is now up to snuff for high-end 4K with HDR.

(2017-07-28, 15:33)RockerC Wrote: I would argue that GeForce GT 1030 should also be added to "most bang for the buck" section too if user already have a PC to upgrade or am willing to buy an compatible old used PC cheap.

Almost any PC made in the 10-years can be upgraded with GeForce GT 1030 to become a 4K and High Def capable HTPC. Only need a PC with a PCIe x16 slot. Classifieds ads to the rescue.

Although I am not suggesting or recommending it, I have an older pc running ubuntu mate with a GeForce 1050 and it works pretty good with Kodi. However, I purchased the card for the ffmpeg hevc_nvenc encoder. The pascal based GeForce 1050 can do two files at a time and although it does not produce the same quality as handbrake using cpu x265 encoding, x265 encoding is not practical on my system. I read somewhere that in the future Kodi development will not have the same Nvidia support for these cards as it does now. I am not sure of the details.

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